PREVIEW: Oldham Athletic vs Port Vale

As Vale prepare for their second cup game on the road of the season, they will be looking to immediately bounce back from last weekends home defeat to rivals Crewe.

As the Checkatrade Trophy gets underway, Michael Brown will be looking to improve on last season’s performance and make it through to the knockout phase of the competition.

There is a possibility that the depth of Brown’s Vale squad could make an impact on tonight’s game, as he is aware of the home tie against Notts County on Saturday.

The Opposition

Having finished the 2016/17 Sky Bet League One season in 17th place, only four points off relegation, the Latics started the 2017/18 campaign with room for improvement, having not earned a point in four league games.

Defeats to Blackpool, Wigan, Walsall and Oxford in the league, and a defeat in the Carabao Cup to Burton Albion see the Latics winless in five for the season.

They will be looking for a win tonight in a bid to get their season up and running.

Talk

Michael Brown

“We will certainly be trying to win the game. It could be a tough side against us, it could be a slightly changed side. So it is very hard to call what sort of team is going to be up against you in this competition.”

John Sheridan

“I don't want to let the club down and the supporters down. They came in with a lot of belief this season and we just haven't started the way I wanted to start.

“I don't want it to drag on and drag on. Things need to improve in a lot of areas, but I'm only worried about the football pitch.”

Team News

Vale will still be without goalkeeper Rob Lainton, midfielder Danny Pugh, and strikers Tyrone Barnett and Anton Forrester.

Oldham are victims of an even longer injury list than Port Vale. With a total of nine players out due to injury, and a further two in Cameron Dummigan and Ryan McLaughlin who have been called up to the under-21 and full Northern Irish squads.

However, the Latics will welcome new loan-signing Jack Byrne from Wigan who is expected to go straight into the squad for tonight.

Coverage

The official Port Vale Twitter feed will be providing live updates for the entirety. There will also be build-up to the game with the official Instagram and Snapchat account: officialpvfc.

Reaction will be available on the official website post-match, as well as on YouTube, iFollow and social media.

REPORT: Oldham Athletic 0-0 Port Vale

Port Vale got life off to a good start in the first group game of the Checkatrade Trophy following a penalty-shootout victory over Oldham Athletic.

It was Tyler Denton who tucked away the final penalty for Michael Brown’s side following a good performance from The Valiants at Boundary Park.

The game started off slowly with neither side able to break each other down. The opening 10 minutes were soon awakened with the first chance of the game as David Worrall whipped in an excellent right-foot cross to Rekeil Pyke. His ‘turn and shoot’ technique was soon blocked on the line by the Oldham defender.

Pyke continued to cause more issues for the hosts and looked to be through on goal once again on the 15th minute. Cristian Montano played a through ball to the on-loan striker who could only force Ben Wilson to a good save.

19 minutes had passed and The Valiants were still searching for a goal. A lively Anthony de Freitas fed Montano a pass onto the edge of the area whose first-time effort flew well over the top of the crossbar.

Ryan Boot also had to play his part in the opening 25 minutes by claiming a fast, whizzing cross from a wide Oldham Athletic – who looked to use the width of the pitch to their advantage.

Dan Turner has enjoyed a good start to the season for Michael Brown’s men and could have added to his goal tally as the combination between Pyke and himself excels. Pyke whipped in a low cross for Turner as he blazed over from 12 yards.

The Latics continued to edge forward and saw their first real chance of the game three minutes later. Mason Fawns found himself close to the edge of the goalmouth where his initial shot was blocked by Gavin Gunning. The ball soon returned into the area and was cleared, much to the delight of the Vale defence.

37 minutes in and Oldham nearly caught out Boot once again as Aaron Amadi-Holloway tried his luck from range. His left-footed chip was attempted from 18-yards, only to go just wide of the goal.

Vale could go into the half-time break happy with how they have performed in the first-half, with the gaffer in promising spirits in this Checkatrade Trophy tie.

No substitutes were made at the break but a chance on the 48th minute as Fawns once again tried his luck. He found the ball towards the right hand-side of the six-yard area and blasted towards Boot’s goal. The ball went just wide after evading an attempted block by Gunning.

Port Vale looked to respond as David Worrall found Marcus Harness at the back post, Harness cut it backwards towards Montano who fired well-over the bar on 57 minutes.

Amadi-Holloway looked to continue to be a nuisance for the Vale defence but a well-structured back-line allowed the scoreline to stay at 0-0, 70 minutes in. He once again found himself at an awkward angle infront of Boot where his shot was denied by a brave challenge from a Vale defender.

It looked to be nervy final ten minutes for both sides, with several scrambles on the edge of each area. The game was now to be decided via a penalty shootout after a goalless draw, after 90 minutes.

Denton then finished off the game for Vale with an excellent penalty to give Vale a solid two points on the board with Notts County awaiting on Saturday.